Hola, Friends!
I am back from my home state of New Mexico. It felt like home which is exactly what I was looking for. It’s nice to have a place that feels like home. Just driving into the state, something shifts inside me. It’s a familiarity but it runs deep. I mean, if you think of what holds your brain it’s your head and what holds your head is the dome of the bigger environment, the big frequency. That state held my head for a long time when there were a lot of things forming and percolating in there. It felt good to be back in the cradle for my brain.
I was in Albuquerque just long enough to have a plate of huevos rancheros at Duran’s Pharmacy. Green chile, red on the side, tortillas with butter. I saw my buddy David who I have known since second grade. I saw my dad who I have known since I was born. Then I went down to Los Poblanos and stayed the night literally a block from where I grew up. Had dinner down there with David and his girlfriend, Sherilyn. I cut out the next morning for Santa Fe. Got there, grabbed two plates of chicken enchiladas with green chile at Tia Sophia’s and brought them to where my friend Devon was staying. I’ve known him since fifth grade. I cried hard in my enchiladas talking about Lynn. Devon could handle it. After lunch I headed up to Taos to the casita I booked on Airbnb. It was perfect.
I did big hikes every morning in Taos. I cooked food for the week and just hung out. The terrain there is truly spectacular. It was great to be there. I wouldn’t mind living there if I feel I can stay in this country.
I visited Dennis Hopper’s grave twice while I was in Taos. I didn’t know he was there. I’m not sure how I found out. I went online and figured out how to get to the cemetery which is a rustic, dusty old Mexican cemetery in Rancho de Taos that isn’t even connected to a church. It’s like a dirt lot with very unique, seemingly handcrafted grave sites. His was covered in offerings that Hopper pilgrims brought. The first visit I didn’t have anything. The second I brought Devon with me and some river rocks I picked up on a hike we took. I like the rough nature of his grave. Fitting. It was intimate. It felt like humans cared for it and added to it, like an evolving piece of art. I could feel his bones and appreciate his life and the energy was uplifting. I fucking love that guy.
I left Taos on Friday morning. The plan was to stay in Flagstaff for the night. Split up the drive. I got to Flagstaff at 1:30 and had no idea what I would do there until morning so I just ate the two hundred dollars and kept driving. Thirteen hours straight through. It was meditative. I’ve done that drive so many times in my life and it always gets me into an altered state. I felt restored so as I drove I didn’t play music. I just let my brain burn so I could regenerate some new growth.
Good trip all around.
Today I talk to Chelsea Peretti. She’s been on before. It was over ten years ago and I love her and she’s smart and funny. So much has happened in ten years. It was great to talk to her. On Thursday I talk to JK Simmons about his acting. Straightforward guy. Good talks.
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and LaFonda live!
Love,
Maron
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